Over the moon! I am absolutely over the moon with Denman's second place in the Gold Cup. After one fence I thought Kauto Star was a 1-4 chance and so it turned out. Anyone who didn't back him in-running this time missed out on a freebie, because it was just like two years ago when he had the run of all time.

My fella's trainer [Paul Nicholls, who also trains Kauto Star] said to me before the race we couldn't go out with all guns blazing in our circumstances. It had to be a gradual thing. Over the first couple he was only all right, then we quickly figured out that he wasn't going to get lapped by Madison Du Berlais as at Kempton, so he got a bit more confident. Throughout the rest of the race we were all delighted without at any stage thinking we could win it.

Ruby [Walsh, Kauto Star's jockey] said afterwards that he couldn't believe Sam Thomas was with him at the third last. We had him worried.

I'm always a believer that the pace of a race will decide the winner but we had to look after Denman today. We went the courageous route to run him after Kempton and, tactically, it would have been suicidal for us to do anything different.

It's so good for racing, because Kauto Star really proved his class yesterday, but on the strength of that run — and if you appreciate pace and gamble around pace in a race like I do — you can tell that Denman ran an absolute monster. I really can't believe that he won't be back right up there in the forefront next year.

Sam was absolutely euphoric and just couldn't believe how well Denman travelled. I think if we'd known he was really well, the race would have been quite different. We'd have said ­"ta-da" to Christian [Williams, Neptune Collonges' jockey] at the second, then maybe not gone as mad as last year, but it would have been so different.

I'm really pleased for Paul Nicholls and I really believe that there's a good chance Kauto Star and Denman will be 6-4 joint-favourites by the time they go to post next year – if that happens it will be the biggest National Hunt clash of all time.

I honestly believe that's a real possibility. I never lost faith, but I'd probably have been happy to wait another year, but [co-owner] Paul Barber is the man as far as this horse is concerned and he thought he should take his chance.

Gambling-wise, I got a few quid on in the Gold Cup in-running. I was the right side of a close finish in the Triumph Hurdle with Zaynar, which was very exciting, with everyone going mental. I was on Pride Of Dulcote in the Albert Bartlett Novice Hurdle and he only just got beat, so I was a bit gutted with that, but some of the finishes yesterday were fantastic. Just to be at the Festival and to be involved is what you dream of as a kid and it's bloody magic.

Before the Gold Cup, my long purple coat was the talk of the parade ring. I'd promised to wear it on Gold Cup day if Archipenko won the QE2 Cup at Sha Tin, and he bolted up at 14-1. I hope the Queen wasn't upset with me for stealing her thunder – I meant to go and say hello to her but never got the chance. Harry Findlay is a professional punter and part-owner of Denman